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LAUSANNE : Singapore now has a greater understanding of the requirements for the Youth Olympic Games, and will put in a better bid to host the event.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this after meeting IOC President Jacques Rogge in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Singapore is one of 10 cities bidding to host the Games. Other candidates include Athens, Greece, Moscow, Russia, and Malaysia.
Mr Rogge met Mr Lee and the two took a stroll to the Olympic Museum. They toured the museum and also held a lunch discussion where Mr Lee learnt more about the Youth Olympic Games.
Mr Rogge initiated this event which will involve about 3,500 athletes, aged between 14 and 18 years.
Mr Lee said the Games would be more than just a sporting competition. It is also a chance to educate the young.
"To get them not only involved in the Games but also healthy lifestyles, also values, culture and activities that go beyond sporting careers. So the Games are not just games, but also include a significant amount of educational activities as well and we are working that into our bid," he said.
Mr Lee said Singapore was committed to its bid for the Games and would give the bid its best shot.
"It is a very major endeavour. We have had other major exercises before like the IMF World Bank but this is the Youth Olympics. It is the first Youth Olympics, so I think we will give it our very best shot," he said.
Mr Lee said if Singapore gets to host the Youth Olympic Games, it will put the country on the international map.
He said it would also give Singapore good publicity, but more importantly he said Singapore would be able to develop friendships with other countries which hopefully will last a lifetime.
Singapore's Sports Minister is confident the Republic has much to offer.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said: "We are a small young nation, multi-cultural by definition, open to the rest of the world. We may not have the biggest and the grandest of sports facilities but we believe we can make up for that through organisation, through people and the friendships that we offer to the rest of the world."
The host city for the Youth Olympic Games will be decided in February next year. - CNA/de
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